Part 824

Legal system: based on English law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the king note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the king and the Cabinet elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the king

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 1999) election results : percent of vote - NA; seats - 7 proreform, 2 traditionalist

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London consulate(s) general : San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

Economy - overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 36% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The industrial sector accounts for only 13% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-95 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects, but contracted in 1995-96. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit. Current proposals include selling Tongan citizenship and passports to foreigners, leasing its seven equatorial satellite spots, and setting up a joint venture gas production facility with South Korea.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $228 million (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: -1.9% (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,140 (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 36% industry: 13% services: 51% (1994)

Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.4% (1995)

Labor force: total: 32,013 (1990 est.) by occupation : agriculture 70% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $44 million expenditures : $86 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Industries: tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - capacity: 7,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - production: 30 million kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh

Agriculture - products: coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper

Exports: total value : $15.25 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 59%, US 14%, Australia 6%, NZ 6% (FY93/94)

Imports: total value: $80.3 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities : food products, live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 38%, Australia 28%, US 10%, Fiji 7.5% (1995)